Publisher's Summary

Learn the secret to making changes that stick! Every so often people get inspired (again!) to lose weight, to get organized, to start saving, or to stop worrying - but a few months later they give up, frustrated. It doesn't have to be that way.

In This Year I Will..., best-selling author M.J. Ryan offers breakthrough wisdom and coaching to help listeners make this time the time that change becomes permanent.

Why do people find it so hard to change? The secret is that everyone has their own formula for making changes that stick, but most people don't know what theirs is. They think there is one way to lose five pounds, and another way to stay on top of their e-mail, but they don't realize that for all changes, there is one system that works best for each individual.

This Year I Will... helps you lock on to your unique formula for planning, implementing, and seeing a life change through, so you can use it again and again to tackle anything else you'd like to do.

For anyone who has broken a New Year's resolution, fallen off a diet, or given up on fulfilling a dream, the ingenious strategies, inspiring stories, and sheer motivational energy of This Year I Will... will help you make a promise to yourself that you can actually keep.

What the Critics Say

"If you're struggling and think that one more title can't possibly make a difference, think again. M.J. Ryan has the rare gift of breaking things down into clear pieces that can be tackled." (Laura Berman Fortgang, author of Now What? 90 Days to a New Life Direction)

The narrator of this book speaks in such a rapid fire, high speed manner that it is overwhelming to listen to except for in short bursts. Kind of like being taught how to have a snow ball fight with an instructor who repeatedly hits you square in the face with a truck load of snow balls. Great info but the delivery is so fast and intense that even the narrator has trouble getting the words out--many mis-speaking issues. I felt like begging her to take a breath. The information presented is solid and possibly helpful--if you can stand the delivery.

25 of 26 people found this review helpful

Jim Koch

30/09/09

Overall

"Great content. Poor audio"

As was mentioned in another review, the knowledge of this book is blocked by the presentation. It sounds like the author was reading it from her kitchen table with echo, background noise and general mistakes while reading. The good news is it has some helpful tips. Now I have to get the hard copy to fully enjoy it.

25 of 26 people found this review helpful

D. Brown

Grand Rapids, MI, United States

01/10/12

Overall

Performance

Story

"Many a "a-ha!" moments, but reading and pace....."

Would you listen to This Year I Will again? Why?

Yes, there are many good tips in this book. The author states that this isn't a read once and put away type of book. There are many things to try in order to find what method(s) suit you best.

What three words best describe M. J. Ryan’s performance?

Moving Right Along : )

Any additional comments?

Much of this book is something I've read before, but things that didn't really stick until presented here which is the odd part. It's not so much the author's reading that hindered me fully loving this book, it actually felt more conversational and relaxed with her occasional misspoken words and awkward pauses. My shortcoming with this "Audible Book" is the pacing. It feels like the chapters flow from one to the next without emphasis nor separation of idea(s). I had to pause, backup, and write down the idea or key points to the previous topic a lot.

Me personally, I don't feel that this is a book that I can casually listen to in the car or while exercising because without rapt attention, the ideas just flow right past. I'm still giving it good marks based on content, I like the author's voice and presentation... just the pacing.

19 of 20 people found this review helpful

Kathryn

Warren, VT, USA

25/06/09

Overall

"Excellent Content/So-So reading"

It is a shame that Ms. Ryan chose to read this book herself. Her reading isn't awful, but the quality varies and her delivery is sometimes amateurish. That being said, I have listened to the book several times because I find the content to be excellent - very motivating and helpful in making changes. Ms. Ryan has very good suggestions and examples of how to go about making lasting change. She also addresses some of the biological reasons why change is difficult and approaches that help overcome our resistance. Listen to the sample and decide for yourself on her delivery. Her message is definitely worth listening to. I'd have given it 5 stars if only the reading were more professional.

28 of 30 people found this review helpful

Cynthia

Monrovia, California, United States

02/01/14

Overall

Performance

Story

"Resolutions and Resolve"

Last New Year's Day, as I was taking down Christmas decorations, I listened to Andrew Mellen's "Unstuff Your Life! Kick the Clutter Habit and Organize Your Life for Good" (2010). I had decided 2013 was the year I would work on organizing my home, starting with holiday lights, ornaments, and decorations. It ended up taking me a week to box it all, but at the beginning of December, I knew it really worked. The house was festive, and thanks to the other tips in that book, it's well on the way to being uncluttered.

That was such a success, I decided to start 2014 out with another self help book, listening as I put decorations away (just a few hours this year). I chose M J Ryan's "This Year I Will: How To Finally Change A Habit, Keep A Resolution, Or Make A Dream Come True" (2006). I have some habits I'd like to shed, along with a few pounds; some habits I'd like to establish; and a dream or two that's been simmering on the back burner as I dedicated myself to raising kids who are finally old enough to make themselves dinner and get to and from practices.

"This Year I Will" is a really practical guide to looking at what you would like to do; establishing reachable goals; the methods for reaching those goals; and, most importantly for me, what to do if you fall out of the Keebler Elf Tree House and eat a cookie or five. Ryan talks about how to handle temporary setbacks without turning them into permanent failures. She also discusses different motivations, and why what works for some (a reward or treat) isn't necessarily going to work for people who are motivated by other factors, like the joy of competition.

I'm very hopeful that the techniques I learned listening to this book will work for me.

Ryan narrated the book, and I liked her voice. The production quality was a little rough and it could have used an audio proof listen - but it didn't distract from the message.

[If this review helped, please press YES. Thanks!]

56 of 64 people found this review helpful

Glenn

Richmond Hill, ON, Canada

22/02/09

Overall

"Succinct, with many ideas that can be used now!"

Well researched with many references to other peoples works. Succinct and very easy to listen to. So many solid ideas to put into practice right now. One of the best books I have listend to this year.

27 of 31 people found this review helpful

Corey A Liepelt

15/06/09

Overall

"Hard to listen to"

MJ Ryan offers a nice package of worthwhile, if not unique, wisdom about getting past mental hurdles that typically hinder progress toward achieving a goal. Unfortunately, MJ decided to read her own book rather than hire a professional, which I believe was a very bad move. I got some useful strategies from the book, but I lost focus about halfway through because it was so hard to listen to MJ stumble through her own content. Good think the book was only 4 1/2 hours!

18 of 21 people found this review helpful

Patricia

Boynton Beach, Fl, United States

24/05/12

Overall

Performance

Story

"Good book but...."

If you could sum up This Year I Will in three words, what would they be?

Good advice, ideas

Who was your favorite character and why?

No characters in this book. Is a self help one not a novel.

Have you listened to any of M. J. Ryan’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

No because sounded like it was being read in a tunnel.

Any additional comments?

The book is a good one giving the reader much to digest from the little I heard. Lots of advice and how-to's to make changes from reading rhe preview. But rapid fire reading was hard to follow. I decided to get the book instead of rewinding to understand what was being said. It should have been read slower so the listener could understand the processes needed to make those changes in their life. I found it good enough to purchase the book.

8 of 9 people found this review helpful

S. Girod

Ridgecrest, CA

02/01/14

Overall

Performance

Story

"Self-help read to you in the author's bathroom"

Would you try another book from M. J. Ryan and/or M. J. Ryan?

I would consider a hard copy versus audio for future books by this author.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

Well, yes. I liked the conversational feel but the pacing was awkward and it sounded unrehearsed. The worse part is that is sounds like the reader was sitting in their bathroom reading from notes. Would benefit from a more professional reading of the material.

Any additional comments?

Might have to get a hard copy to get a real benefit from this material. A little disappointed in the audio book product.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

A. Yoshida

Pasadena, CA USA

04/01/14

Overall

Performance

Story

"Good little book to walk you through changing"

The ideas in the book are simple. But that's because the method to change is simple -- find the right approach for you and identify what would motivate you to continue day after day. People often fail because of two reasons. They talk about or read about change but don't take any action. Or they start without having a plan or consider how to get back on track when slipping up occasionally.

If you're ready to make a change, this is a great book to walk you through it. The author describes the steps (e.g., plan and prepare). She gives examples of where people have succeeded and failed in these steps. You decide what would work for you. Go through the book slowly. Absorb a few ideas and practice the techniques. Be willing to tweak it so it works for you (e.g., putting sticky notes to remind yourself rather than beat yourself up when you forget to do something). After accomplishing those steps, move on to the next section in the book.

7 of 9 people found this review helpful

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